 "Digvijaya may fight Modi in Varanasi")
After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, from the Varanasi seat, the Congress has an uphill task to find a “formidable candidate” against him. According to party sources, it is seriously considering fielding general secretary and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh (pictured) from Varanasi.
Modi’s nomination has upset the Congress’ plans, as it was set to field local MLA Ajay Rai from the seat. Singh has been a staunch critic of Modi. He has been in the line of fire of the BJP for coining the word “saffron terror” to target Sangh Parivar organisations.
The fight in Varanasi has become all the more captivating with Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal throwing his hat in the ring. Ajay Rai, the MLA from Kolasla in Varanasi, was a BJP member before he joined the Congress in the previous Assembly polls. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “The Congress will put up a formidable candidate against Narendra Modi in Varanasi.”
The party is yet to reveal its plans. However, sources confirmed when the matter was discussed with Singh, he had expressed willingness to contest against the Gujarat chief minister.
“We need to put an equal fight against Modi and therefore require a candidate of Modi’s stature. Who better than Digvijay Singh to fit the bill,” said a Congress leader.
Singh is not just another General Secretary of the party, he is also someone who is a close aide of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
Singh has on several occasions challenged Narendra Modi to a debate and claimed that he is a much more devout Hindu than the Gujarat Chief Minister.
Modi’s nomination has upset the Congress’ plans, as it was set to field local MLA Ajay Rai from the seat. Singh has been a staunch critic of Modi. He has been in the line of fire of the BJP for coining the word “saffron terror” to target Sangh Parivar organisations.
The fight in Varanasi has become all the more captivating with Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal throwing his hat in the ring. Ajay Rai, the MLA from Kolasla in Varanasi, was a BJP member before he joined the Congress in the previous Assembly polls. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “The Congress will put up a formidable candidate against Narendra Modi in Varanasi.”
The party is yet to reveal its plans. However, sources confirmed when the matter was discussed with Singh, he had expressed willingness to contest against the Gujarat chief minister.
“We need to put an equal fight against Modi and therefore require a candidate of Modi’s stature. Who better than Digvijay Singh to fit the bill,” said a Congress leader.
Singh is not just another General Secretary of the party, he is also someone who is a close aide of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
Singh has on several occasions challenged Narendra Modi to a debate and claimed that he is a much more devout Hindu than the Gujarat Chief Minister.
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